The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin, Maria Trimarchi (Foreword), Holly Frey (Foreword)
Publication Date: 19th Sep 2023
Genre: Nonfiction
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Poison-licious ;)
Poison has been declared as a woman’s weapon of choice for murder. But is it really true? We know about some famous women who poisoned several people (for various reasons). Do we know why? How did poisoning become such a convenient way to get rid of someone? Which plants are toxic, and why do they also heal when taken in the right quantities?
This book discusses the answers to these questions and more. Whether you are a mystery lover, history buff, or true crime fan, The League of Lady Poisoners is sure to give you some interesting insights.
The book starts with a foreword and introduction. I love how the author explores the theme while pointing out many stereotypical issues that have become ‘facts’. Misogyny, gender restrictions, social constraints, oppression, witch hunts, media and historian bias, etc., play a role in how women ended up becoming famous for using poison to murder.
The author mentions that the book mainly deals with white women as she couldn’t find records for a more diverse and inclusive collection. After a brief timeline about poisons, we read about different poisonous plants around us (my favorite section), followed by venomous animals, and poisonous elements (with lots of data about arsenic, the most famous poison of all time).
There are bits and pieces about how these minerals were in wallpapers, cosmetics, gowns, etc., leading to millions of deaths over time. Then, we finally get to the core theme of the book- lady poisoners from history and glimpses into their lives. The list is categorized into sections based on what could be the possible motive for the murders.
The list starts with Locusta from Rome, the lady assassin with a vast knowledge of plants. She was a healer and a killer. The ladies mostly come from humble backgrounds with little or no means to survive and had to find ways to make a living.
The famous Vishakanyas from India are also on the list. This trope is still famous in our daily soaps (sigh!). Of course, Chanakya’s role has to be discussed (and how he fed small amounts of poison to Chandragupta Maurya to promote natural resistance in his body against poisonous attacks from enemies).
Then there’s Sally from the Caribbean, who took matters into her hands in Bermuda to fight slavery. Since she was a mixed-race woman, there isn’t enough about her earlier days, but we do know how she was sentenced to death by a jury of white men. The government of Bermuda has erected a 10-foot statue in 2008 to honor her.
We also find Cleopatra, Marie Lafarge, Mary Ann Cotton, Viva Murano, Lucrezia Borgia, Wu Zetian (the only woman ruler in China), Queen Ranavalona (the first female monarch in Madagascar who also fought French colonizers and Christian missionaries), Tillie Klimek, Frances Howard Carr, Christiana Edmunds, etc.
I love the bibliography at the end. It’s extensive but also neatly structured with headings and references, making it easy to look up more information for individual segments and people.
How can I end my review without talking about the illustrations? The art is exotic, dark, and bold, tinged with humor. It elevates the content and perfectly aligns with the writing style (which has good doses of dry and sarcastic one-liners). And why not? The author is also an award-winning illustrator, and it shows in her artwork.
To summarize, The League of Lady Poisoners is a comprehensive collection of all things poison, with a major focus on women branded as lady poisoners. This book is best enjoyed in smaller doses. ;)
Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle Books LLC, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #TheLeagueofLadyPoisoners
***
P.S.: I can’t help but wonder if the author would want to create a tarot/ oracle deck on this theme. I sure will buy it even if the currency exchange rate burns my pocket.
No comments:
Post a Comment